The Edmonton Oilers have an enormous number of talented kids in town this weekend, giving fans like you and me a chance to observe greatness at the very beginning. You know I’m not one to tell you what to do, but if you get a chance—and especially if you have young ones—this is one of those “remember when?” moments for our town and that’s a nice event for all families. Kids are on the ice every morning through Sunday and then Monday night there’s the ‘Billy Moores Cup’ and public is invited. One of the highlights of summer, no doubt, it’s all at Rexall. The kids are on the ice 9:30-12:30 noon today, schedule and roster is here.

ORIENTATION CAMP ROSTER AND NOTES

D Darnell Nurse. Big, strong, mobile defenseman is a big part of the future. Even AFTER the additions I’m not certain they can keep him off the opening night roster if they decide things on merit.

D Joey Laleggia. Small, skill defenseman who delivered a terrific college career and now embarks at the pro level. Magician with the puck but the key will be what he can do without it. If he can play defense in pro hockey, Laleggia should have a significant career.

D William Lagesson. Two-way defender with good speed and mobility, his size (6.02, 196) and mean streak make him intriguing. I have read he’s prone to mistakes with the puck when pressured but it’s early days.

D Caleb Jones. Two-way defender with a range of skills, he doesn’t have one dominant trait. A good passer, needs to be more consistent defensively but his skating is a big plus and that’s a big deal.

D Ethan Bear. Looking forward to seeing Bear, who is a smart passer and plays a rugged game. His big shot from the point may help him put up big numbers in the WHL next season. Powerful skater, so the scouts say.

D Ben Betker. Big man is a good skater and played heavy minutes in junior. A concussion derailed him as things approached mid-season but he’s a promising stay-at-home type.

D John Marino: Another two way defender with speed, he’s a player with some skill, too. Played at a lower level last season, no real idea about where he is although most of the verbal is positive (and more available than, say, info on Troy Hesketh).

D Loik Leveille. Fascinating defenseman (6.00, 223) that Red Line calls “a burly rearguard (who) is built like a tank and likes to use his thick, stocky frame to play a physical game.” He also has a big shot and chaos. Sounds fun!

D Josh Healey. Former Sherwood Park Crusader is an effective college defender for Ohio State. Reportedly has some puck moving ability but most of what I’ve read concentrated on defensive play.

C Connor McDavid. Beatlemania—Oilers edition begins now. He honestly seems to good to be true, on and off the ice. It’s incredible, he’s as obsessed with hockey as we are! Fantastic luck, pure heroin insanity.

C Leon Draisaitl. One of the players (along with Yakupov) I worried over being traded this spring, Leon’s combination of size and skill remains unique on the roster. I think they’re going to have a helluva time keeping him down on the farm.

C Kyle Platzer. Massive improvement season over season and he earned a pro contract. I’m not sure what he’ll be as a pro but if the offense falters, there’s enough here to project him into another role (very rare for a player taken late). Love to see prospects blossom, he’s nowhere close to an NHL career right now but his resume has some nice bullet points.

R Greg Chase. Similar to Draisatl in that Chase can look down the depth chart on any Oilers team or affiliate and realize he’s unique. The thing for Chase is to be consistent, find the sweet spot in his game that allows him to agitate without getting a penalty, and drill that zone like a jackhammer. Cheering like hell for him and he has more than a puncher’s chance.

F Tyler Vesel. Long shot pick from the Alfred Hitchcock draft (2014), Vesel showed some real skill with 23 points in his debut NCAA season (39 games with Omaha). I think he might be a legit prospect, will be fun to see how he looks in this group.

L Evan Campbell.HF’s scouting report tells us he’s an average skater and “a big powerhouse center with a gritty playing style” but I’ve ignored him since he was drafted, preferring to see him do something worth noticing. He did this past season, remains a long shot for NHL duty.

R John McCarron. Kirk Luedeke talked about him a couple of years ago on the radio show: “He’s another one of those raw guys, pretty hard nosed for college. Nothing flashy, meat and potatoes north-south type player his production was pretty good. He’s got a chance to be a bottom 6 player, at very best he would be a fringe third liner or solid fourth liner.” Has to be signed or set free this summer.

C Tyler Soy. Unsigned skill center, he’s a very good hockey player, but speed appears to be his issue. Cody Nickolet calls him ‘quick’ but I’ve also read about some issues in that area. Great stickhandler and passer, might be a guy Edmonton considers drafting next season.

L Braden Christoffer. Guy Flaming tells me he’s a hard worker and a blue collar type. 5.10, 185 and 147 pims, he also scored 26 goals so has some skill. Most of the videos available involve fighting, although he’s not a heavyweight.

C Alexis Loiseau. Oilers have him on an AHL deal. He’s 21, 6.01, 180, he scored 96 points in 68 QMJHL games. Scouting reports have him as a versatile, skill forward.

L Connor Rankin. Bakersfield signing, scored 32 in the WHL. Old scouting reports have him as a reasonably fast winger, that makes him an interesting pro prospect.

C Lane Bauer. Smart, skill center who has all the tools but foot speed and that’s going to impact his chances of having a pro career. Excellent passer, creative.

L Jacob Stukel. He’s a fast skill winger who has had to overcome injuries. His boxcars don’t look like much but his age (18) and speed make him a prospect of interest.

L Tyler Robertson. Bigger winger with some skating issues (he’s awkward) but there are some good things about him. He can play with skill (complementary player) but hasn’t blossomed offensively. A big year ahead for him.

C Mike Rebry. Former Penticton Vee (BCJHL) now hanging out at Western Michigan. He’s 21, doesn’t look like he’s played much in college but he posted some nice tier two numbers.

Zach Nagelvoort. Described as a decent goalie with the ability to consistently stay square to the puck. Very good glove, needs to work on rebound control. I have no idea what I’m talking about this is from ISS.

Miroslav Svoboda. A .942 SP at the WJC’s is a fantastic number but he was only .917 in his own regular league. Interesting player, I never mind using a late pick on a G.

Jordan Papirny. A nice WHL goalie, I’m not sure why Edmonton didn’t draft him in the seventh round but they must have their reasons. Hybrid goalie, standup mostly (courtesy Black Book).

Keven Bouchard. The man, the myth, the legend. Don’t know much about him beyond that period he played in the Memorial Cup, but the good news is that’s probably about what the Oilers have on him.

Players worth signing: Loik Leveille has a unique set of skills and it’s easy to imagine Edmonton getting him under contract before he goes back to junior this fall. John McCarron is an Oilers draft pick and he must be signed by August 15 or cut loose, my guess is he doesn’t get a contract. Tyler Soy is a high skill player, might be worth a contract depending on those skating issues. Jordan Papirny has stolen some junior games at Rexall, imagine the Oilers saw him good.

Sekera also the 47th best shot suppressor dman in the league at 51.0 CA/60. Better than Chara, OEL, Oduya, Vlasic. Sekera is a true #1 dman.

L Ryan Hamilton (he’ll be the veteran hand in the minors helping to guide the kids)

L Anton Slepyshev (Can’t wait to see him in TC)

L Mitch Moroz (Should see way more action in Bakersfield in 2015-16)

L Kale Kessy (Lost season to injury, another chance in 2015-16)

R Jordan Eberle (Top RW primed for a big year)

R Nail Yakupov (He’s still here, people!)

R Teddy Purcell (May lose minutes on skill line to Korpikoski, because speed)

R Rob Klinkhammer (4line RW, crash and bang)

R Tyler Pitlick (Newly qualified)

R Iiro Pakarinen (Has a chance to make the team)

R Andrew Miller (A strong option for NHL time in 2015-16)

R Greg Chase (His game should flourish in pro’s)

No. 46 is Connor McDavid, he hasn’t signed yet but I’m holding his spot in honor of his comments yesterday about wearing an Oilers jersey forever. It’s going to be very difficult to hold our expectations of this young man at normal human levels if he keeps delighting us with his attitude and maturity.

This is an epic photo. More brown shoes than one would think possible, Katz’ boy has sprouted like a maniac, MacT hears a who, Katz with that fantastic camera savvy normally reserved for Mr. Magoo, and the teenager with all the things smiling back at us in THE moment of summer. Man. That’s a photo, folks.

ARE THEY DONE?

You’d love to see one more puck-moving defenseman back there, seriously. Chiarelli probably feels he’s changed enough out here and will want to see how this thing looks rocking down the highway. Remember, he’s aggressive DURING the season too, so that damnable inertia we have been experiencing for 15 years won’t be as much of a factor (we hope).

How much of what has happened here is McDavid? I mean, Bob Nicholson gets a lot of credit, Katz too really, but how much of Chiarelli, McLellan and Sekera is about the child that shall lead them all? I think the answer is most of it. Seriously. McDavid’s a winner and in the NHL winning is the only thing.

SLATS

Glen Sather announced he was stepping away yesterday, and I can’t let that moment slip by without jotting down a line or two. Sather’s impact on the Stanley teams was massive and his imprint on this team’s overall history remains Everest. Kevin Lowe, Steve Tambellini and Craig MacTavish followed but it feels like fresh air with Chiarelli (we’ll see, early days). Thanks Slats, for the memories. I hope you have a wonderful retirement, but doubt it takes.

LOWDOWN WITH LOWETIDE

Lots to discuss today and a great guest list to do it. 10 this morning, TSN1260:

spoiler: Unfortunately, I’d have to think SJ is as leery about trading with Edmonton as Boston is. This is Doug “Fuck the deal” Wilson we’re talking about.

Yeah, I don’t think its realistic that we’ll get Burns. Just nice to hear, after 10 years of being on everyone’s no trade list, that we are now very distinctly not. McDavid begat Chia begat TMc. McDavid changed everything!

One possibility that was raised that *might* support the termination is if Richards has already been through the two stages required by the CBA. If so, the termination might be valid. But I think even then there would have to be proof that the drugs weren’t prescription, weren’t reasonable, etc. Gets back to the original thought process, I think – desperate move by a desperate team.

Had a brief moment where I thought I might create a hockey humour site… you know something along the lines of ‘Arcobello Going After Gagner’s Coach Record,” “Jack Adams Trophy for Best PDO in Coaching Goes To…” yadda yadda…. never would have thought that http://www.backhandsauce.com would already be taken.

I swear to god there’s a computer out there spitting out word combos that someone with more money than brains buys in the hope that they don’t keep issuing TLDs like they print FRNs.

How do you see a Chicago-St. Louis deal coming to fruition? Do you see St. Louis’ motivation to help Chicago out of cap-jail being greater or lesser than Chicago’s desire to provide gritty Cup-experience to the Blues?

🙂

Seriously, it this was a movie the two GMs would be spit-screened across from each other both looking longingly at their white boards unable to pick-up the phone.

“We believe the legal system has effectively resolved this matter and the punishment is fair and just. Any act of domestic violence is unacceptable. As an organization, the prevention of domestic violence and the education of our players and employees is of paramount importance. We will continue to actively develop and implement a strategy to deliver this message. We remain steadfast in our support of the National Hockey League as they now begin their own investigative process. Until that is complete we will withhold further comment.”

Connorrhea:
Statement from the Kings on their (other) player’s legal woes:

“We believe the legal system has effectively resolved this matter and the punishment is fair and just. Any act of domestic violence is unacceptable. As an organization, the prevention of domestic violence and the education of our players and employees is of paramount importance. We will continue to actively develop and implement a strategy to deliver this message. We remain steadfast in our support of the National Hockey League as they now begin their own investigative process. Until that is complete we will withhold further comment.”

Hmmmm… that’s a much more patient approach to termination of a contract than they took with Richards. Guess it’ll be up to the NHL to terminate the contract.

I pulled up the Vollman Sledgehammer for that season and the two are remarkably, along with Shulzer, the only blue bubbles in a sea of troubles. Makes sense that they would try and divide the wealth, such that it was.

I think the Kings are fully aware that material breach won’t fly, they probably also know that they’ll have to ‘support’ Mike Richards as he goes through treatment for what looks like an opioid addiction. I think all this boils down to is Lombardi feeling butthurt. It’s a giant ‘fuck you’ to Richards over a broken promise.

Might have to go back the Boogard story to see if the NHLPA or team had leaked inadvertantly or as part of the investigation into his death, just how much they were involved in his prescription.

Richards could very well have:
A – brought a controlled substance , requiring a prescription into Canada
B – squirreled his precious like Golum in a condom he swallowed

The outcome of both requires a trial in a court of law, then the NHLPA drug policy would take over and he would be granted rehab rights etc.. as described in the article you linked.

Either way, LA is using this to slip away from a bad contract, and it was clear the player was suffering from something serious. When’s the last time a player this elite has depreciated this far, this fast.

The worst part is Mike Richards now is widely assumed to have an Oxy problem, and that is not a habit that many kick very easy. Notice Stoll is not even hinted at in UFA circles – hard drugs are career suicide these days unless you are young, elite and only punch cab drivers.

Seems to imply that teams were looking at Ehrhoff as a 3rd or 4th option once the top D-men were gone. Perhaps Oilers were thinking about him as a fall-back option in case Sekera didn’t go through.

Certainly possible they circle around again though.

I think we have to be realistic, the Oilers have huge man crushes on Nurse, Klefbom and Reinhart. That’s probably they’re left side for the foreseeable future. Realistically, I can’t see them continuing to add guys with term that would block those guys. They are all expected to be on the roster next year.

So does 2016-17 looks something like:

Klefbom – Sekera
Nurse – Fayne
Reinhart – ???
Ference

In a perfect world, looking at that depth chart for next year, a #1 RH D that bumps everyone down a peg, sends this team into the stratosphere. The only way I see them adding another defenseman this year is if they deal Schultz. Which seems more and more like the best thing to do.

Don’t forget, Klebom needs his extension in the next 12 months. So that and Korpikoski basically takes away the Scrivens + Nikitin money coming off the books. Gryba and Purcell will be gone as well, but they will still need a big raise for Talbot (assuming he delivers). Who knows what cap does if certain projections about canadian dollar are correct. Some say it may dip into the high .60’s.